Grain setting is a technique where usually small faceted stones are set in the metal by using a sharp graver to raise a grain in the metal. This grain holds the stone in place and can provide decoration and detail to the setting.
Once you learn to grain set you can do so many things with it, working with different shaped stones, creating decretive 'star settings' and much more.
Learning this technique will really bring on your stone setting ability and add a new techniques and design possibilities to your repertoire.
- Introduction to the tools used for grain setting and where to buy them
- How to look after tools and how to sharpen setting tools
- Faceted stones: selecting stones for grain setting and learning to assess the cut of a faceted stone
- Raising grains. Practise raising a grain on copper sheet in order to set stones into the metal
- Cutting the metal and preparing the sheet for a row or square of stones
- Positioning and setting the stones into metal
- How to create decretive star settings.
As part of your practice you will produce a small square of grain set stones and a row of grain set stones in a ring with lots of opportunity to practise in base metal.
This is an advanced level course so we recommend that you have completed our two day stone setting class and the soldering masterclass (or equivalent) before enrolling on this class. You will need to be confident in the basic stone setting techniques of creating a rub over cabochon setting and ideally tube and flush settings too.
We also recommend that students are familiar with silver jewellery making and are comfortable using hand tools in a workshop environment.
General Info:
As with all of our classes, all materials are included in the cost of the class as well as plenty of tea, coffee and snacks! The classes are all run by expert tutors with years of professional experience who are friendly, knowledgeable and approachable. The size of the classes is kept small to allow plenty of one-on-one attention and the maximum number of students for this class is 8.
We take an hour break for lunch and there are plenty of local shops to get food from, or you can always bring a packed lunch to eat in the studio. If you have any questions regarding this or other courses please don't hesitate to get in touch.
We look forward to welcoming you into the studios soon.
